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Mosque murder accused targeted in prison, court told

Adam Cooper

A man committed to stand trial for the murder of a worshipper at a Melbourne mosque had been threatened within the prison system and was moved for his own safety, a court has heard.

Erol Elmas, 23, who is charged with the stabbing death of Omer Ali Aysel at the Turkish Islamic and Cultural Centre in Dallas on December 5, had been the subject of threats while in custody, Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Thursday.

Defence counsel Julian McMahon said Mr Aysel's death had caused "outrage" given he was a "respected member of the community" and a Muslim elder, and that this anger had to led to threats being made against the accused.

Mr Elmas had been moved within the prison system after the threats were made and was now being held in a high-security psychiatric hospital, Mr McMahon said.

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Mr McMahon said he still had concerns for the safety of his client.

Mr Elmas is charged with one count of murder, three charges of attempted murder, two counts of intentionally causing serious injury and eight counts of assault, one for each of eight people.

The court heard he suffered mental-health problems including schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis.

Mr Elmas was to face a comittal hearing on Thursday, but Mr McMahon applied for the case to be referred straight to the Supreme Court because one witness was unavailable and another was in pain after a recent operation.

The evidence of those witnesses could be examined at a later date, he said.

Magistrate Ann Collins said she had read some of the material and found there was sufficient evidence to find a conviction, and ordered the matter go to trial.

Mr Elmas did not enter a plea and remained silent when asked by the magistrate.

Mr Elmas, dressed in a blue flannel shirt and blue track pants, was remanded in custody to appear before the Supreme Court on July 3.

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